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Aptos arsonist Joseph Smith sentenced

The Aptos man went on his destructive vandalism spree with two 17-year-old friends, and he was 18 years old at the time.

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Updated: 12:22 PM PDT Apr 6, 2016

Aptos arsonist Joseph Smith sentenced

The Aptos man went on his destructive vandalism spree with two 17-year-old friends, and he was 18 years old at the time.

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Updated: 12:22 PM PDT Apr 6, 2016

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WEBVTT TEAM -- FROM THE CENTRAL COAST'SMOST-WATCHED NEWS TEAM.DALE: GOOD AFTERNOON.WE'RE GLAD YOU'VE JOINED US.WE BEGIN ON THE CRIMEWATCH.SENTENCING DAY FOR A MAN CHARGEDWITH VANDALIZING AND TORCHINGMORE THAN A DOZEN CARS IN THEAPTOS AREA BACK IN 2014.20-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH SMITH WAS18-YEARS-OLD AT THE TIME OF THEARSON AND VANDALISM CRIMES,RECEIVED A ONE YEAR SENTENCE TOTHE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL, FOURYEARS PROBATION AND MUST ENLISTIN A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMTHE JUDGE COULD HAVE SENTENCEDSMITH TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISONFOR THE NINE FELONY CLOWNDISCOUNTS THAT WERE AGAINST HIM,INCLUDING ARSON.THE JUDGE CITED SMITHS YOUNG AGEAND THAT HE HAD NO PRIORCRIMINAL RECORD FOR SENTENCINGHIM TO A LIGHTER SENTENCE.>> WELL, THE CONDUCT HIS CONDUCTDESERVES PRISON.I THINK THE COURT LOOKED AT THEOVERALL CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVINGTHE DEFENDANT AND HIS AGE ANDLACK OF CRIMINAL HISTORY.HE IS AN ARSONIST AND HE DOESHAVE TO REGISTER FOR THE REST OFHIS LIFE AS AN ARSONIST, SO WECAN ALWAYS KEEP TRACK OF HIM.IF WE HAVE FIRES HE IS SOMEONE, WE COULD LOOK INTOINVESTIGATING.AND HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ANYTYPE OF INCENDIARY DEVICES.DALE: BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 20-14,

Aptos arsonist Joseph Smith sentenced

The Aptos man went on his destructive vandalism spree with two 17-year-old friends, and he was 18 years old at the time.